Two Martial Law exhibits open on September 21

To commemorate 50 years since the declaration of Martial Law, back-to-back exhibits will be launched on September 21, 2022 via radikal.ph and tumbatumba.ph.

Presented by The Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development and Marahuyo Art Projects, each exhibit will be compiled in books that will be given away to children in poor and disadvantaged communities, as part of CANVAS' One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children campaign. These exhibits and books are just some of the many steps that CANVAS and Marahuyo Art Projects expect to take, not only to preserve memory, but more importantly, to imbibe in our children a deeper understanding and appreciation for human rights.

Aldy Aguirre’s Usok at Bulaklak sa Panahon ng Martial Law

Presenting symbols, icons, and events surrounding the Marcos dictatorship, the exhibit will open on September 21 at http://tumbatumba.ph and at CANVAS Gallery and Garden, where an artist reception will be held on Friday, September 23, 4:00 PM. In nineteen pieces, Aguirre chronicles the rise, fall, and return of the Marcos family’s control over our country. The child-friendly paintings are peppered with tiny details from Philippine history before, during, and after Martial Law.

These images will feature in a children’s book slated for release within the year. The publication, titled Hanapin ang Sagot, will pique children’s natural curiosity through poetry, reflections, trivia, and activities about this dark period in our history.

Alingawngaw (Echo/Reverberation)

A collection of works from 19 participating artists, Alingawngaw can be viewed online via http://radikal.ph beginning September 21, 2022 and at the CANVAS Gallery and Garden from October 5 to 17. The artists were challenged to speak to children and share something—thoughts, reflections, trivia—about this pivotal period in our history. An artist reception will be held at the gallery on October 7.

Founded on the belief that art is a tool for personal and societal change, Marahuyo Art Projects invites artists to explore and present their directions and sentiments, both in form and content. Marahuyo serves as an extension of the artists’ creative space and as a venue to showcase their current practice and environmental context, offering programmed and curated content to reach audiences and collectors far beyond the confines of traditional galleries. An online platform and a virtual art space, Marahuyo features Filipino visual artists primarily, while remaining open to meaningful creative collaborations with other artists in the region and the rest of the world.

A non-profit that works with the creative community to promote literacy and explore national identity, CANVAS publishes its award-winning children's stories and donates their books to benefit children in public schools and poor communities throughout the Philippines. Its “One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children Campaign” promotes independent reading and creative thinking in Filipino children, while also exposing them to the best of contemporary Filipino art and literature.